Handling of bottles and crates in bottle-washing machines



A. G. ENOCK 1,774,425

HANDLING OF BOTTLES AND CRATES IN BOTTLE WASHING MACHINES Aug. 26, 1930.

Filed April 24, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 6, 1930. A. G. ENOCK 1,774,425

HANDLING OF BOTTLES AND CRA'IES IN, BOTTLE WASHING MACHINES Filed April 24, 1%8 6 Sheets- Sheet 2 ev 9 @D C D mvumm. {Gran/( A. G. ENOCK Aug. 26, 1930.

HANDLING OF BOTTLES AND CRATES IN BOTTLE WASHINGKMACHINES 6 Sheets-Sheet Filed April 24, 1928 lllllll'll A. G. ENOCK Aug. 26, .1930.

HANDLING OF BOTTLES AND CRATES IN BOTTLE WASHING MACHINES Filed April 24, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Aug. 26, 1930.- A. G. ENOCK, 1,774,425

HANDLING OF BOTTLES AND CRATES IN BCTTLE WASHING MACHINES Filed April 24, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 U KS) WZHUUT W) m 1:: m :1 1:1 :1 c: &| W

gammaa g gVENTQR.

- Mala;

Aug. 2 1930. A. G1 EINOCK 1,774,425

HANDLING OF BOTTLES AND CRATES' IN BOTTLHWASHING MACHINES Filed April 24, 1928 a Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented An 26, 1939 UNITED rates PATENT orr cs ARTHUR GUY ENOOK, OF WEMBLFY PARK, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR- T B'URLECTAS LIMITED, OF LONDON, ENGLAND HANDLING or securities AND osarns In BGTTLE-WASHING MACHINES Application filed A ril 24, 1928, Serial No.

The present invention relates to handling of bottles and crates in bottle washing ma- I chines and is designed to provide means by which the dirty bottles and crates are 1n- 5 verted month downwards for cleansing pur )oses assed throu h the washin machines and then returned to the mouth upward position without the bottles leaving the crates and with the object of passing the crates 10 and bottles along in their passage through the dairy so that without extra handling they .may proceed to the filling and capping machines in a clean condition and mouth upward.

The objects of the invention are to save labour and breakage of bottles-and to permit of the crates and bottles when they are too hot for handling on leaving the sterilizing jets to be passed on direct to the filling mago chines.

The apparatus for carrying out the inven-.

tion comprises a roller feeding path or conveyor uponwliich the crates of dirty bottles with mouths upwardare placed, a crate in vertingcradle or cage into which they are pushed, a bottle washing machine with washing and sterilizing jets, through which the bottles travel mouth downward and a reinverting cradle or cage where they are Y turned mouth upward from which they travelonward to the track which leads tothe filling machine, a loose or separate grid or cover being placed upon the top of the crate before entering the rotary inverter which with the crate is inverted and forms a support for the bottles in their passage through the washing machine.

. The invention will be fully described by s and with reference to the accompanying 4o drawings and the further following details p Fig. l. is a longitudinal section through a tunnel bottle washing and sterilizing machine showing the feeding conveyor, the inverter and reeinverter, a mechanical method for feeding on,tak1ng ofi and return ing the grids to the feeding end of washer.

Fig. 2. 1s a diagram of one form of grid for use in the machine shown 111- so Fig. 8. isan enlarged sectional elevation-oi 272,480. and in Great Britain May 7, 1927.

mechanism for placing the grids on the top of the crates at the feed end of machine.

Fig. 4. is an enlarged side elevation of mechanism for removing the grids.

Fig. 5. is a longitudinal section through a tunnel bottle washing and sterilizing machine showing the inverter and re-inverter. and moving flexible wires, or chain. grids or partial grids and dead plates by which the bottles are retained, in inverted crates.

Fig. 6. is a diagram of one form of chain grid, for use in machine shown in Fig. 5con1- posed of transversewires or rods stretched between two chains.

Fig. 7. is a diagram of another form of grid for use in machine shown in Fig. 5 composed of a series of transverse rods and links- -Fig. 8. is an end View of another form of series of grids with a sprocket for use in the machine shown in Fig. 5 composed of a series of grids hinged together each of which is ap- 'proximatelyzthe width of a crate.v

Fig. 9. is a'longitndinal section through a tunnel bottle washing machine showing the bottles retained in the inverted crates by con tinuous stationary grids.

Fig. 10. is an end view of Fig. 9 omitting the feeding conveyor, fitted with floor plates for inverting-crates without loose grids.

Fig. 11. is a cross section on line -1111 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 12. is a plan of part; of Fig. 9.

F 13. is an elevation of a mechanically operated inverter, titted with floor plates *for inverting crates without loose grids.

Fig. 14. is a plan of Fig. 13.

Fig. 15. is a side elevation of another method of engaging the inverter gear by the weight of the crate and bottles.

The apparatus comprises a tunnel bottle washing and sterilizing apparatus A of known construction with ets not shown) by which water cleaning solutions and/or steam and/or air is injected into and around bottles in an inverted position, a crate inverter 15' and B at'each end of the tunnel by which crates D. containing bottles can be inverted and reinverted, and means or mechanism by which the bottles can be retained in the crates in an invertedposition without obstruction to the free flow of the jets while the crates are traversed through the washing anpa atus.

The inverters B, B are in the form of a. cradle which may be rotated by hand or by mechanical means and may be constructed with metal frames at shown as welded angle iron rings secured together by crate guides C carried by wheels or rollers 12 suitably mounted upon a frame 7 ailixcd to any suitable part of the bottle washing machine A so as tomaintain its position relative thereto, and may be revolved by land or by gears, cran .cs, links, eccentrics, cams. belts, chains or the like, or by a rack and pinion as shown in Figs. l3 and 14L Platforms or floor p ates G extend between the crate guides (.7

Guide and supporting bars a are ailixcd to the upper edges of the washing tanks with rollers to support the crates D in their passage therethrough, the rollers a being positioned ata level to come exactly opposite the guide plates C in the inverter era-idles. At the feed end of the machine a table conveyor D with rollers (Z is fitted to receive the full crates D of dirty bottles and the delivery end of the machine a similar conveyor D with rollers (Z to receive the re-inver:ed crates with the washed bottles from the inverter B The crates are pushed forward into the apparatus by a travelling band D intermittently driven and each crate D is provided with slacking irons, lugs or projections (Z on their upper edges.

In the construction shown in Figs. 1 to i, on the top of each crate before inversion, a grid E is placed to retain the bottles in the crate when inverted. The grids E may be placed upon the crates and removed therefrom by hand but it is preferred to do so by mechanical means as shown. The grids are placed in a receptacle F nn'iunted over the conveyor D with an inclined bottom with a slot at one edge (see Fig. 3) through which the grid E projects, lugs (Z of the oncoming crate engaging with it and drawing itdown upon the top of the crate. An endless conveyor band F is mounted on rollers above e machine with hooks 7 (s e F at) .vhieh e. gage thc rids E at the di. cry end of the machine, lift them from the crates and convey them back and deliver them into the receptacle F.

As the crate moves forward at the delivery end of the machine two projecting lugs 6 shown in detail on the grid E, Fig. 2, slide up the inclined rails 6 shown adjacent to grid E in Fig. 4. One of these rails (2 is sitiilated at each side of the conveyor F and the loose gr ds E slide up these rails upon the project.- ing lugs until they are picked up by projecting hooks f, Fig. at on the conveyor F The grids E- are thus suspended from the conveyor and. then taken oil by the inclined or plate c shown at the feeding end of the machine in Fig. They then gravitate into the receptacle F shown in the same figure.

In the construction shown in Figs. 5 to S the separate retaining grids E are dispensed with and a grid conveyor G is mounted over the washing troughs A on a level with the guide plates C in the inverter cradles to retain the bottles in the inverted. crate while being washed and sterilized. Dead plates {1 are fitted to direct the bottles on to and oil the grid conveyor (l. he grid conveyor (it may be constructed with transverse rods connected to chaii s at their ends as in Fig. (3 or with transverse rods connected together by links as in Fig. 7 or it may be in the form of grids G (similar to E Fig. hin ed or jointed together and passing over tlal sided rollers as in Fig. 8. The conveyor grids will move at a speed syncln-onized with the table conveyor D the crates resting upon the rollers a and the bottle mouths on the grid conveyor G or G In the construction shown in F 9 to '12. a fixed grid G is fitted over the washing troughs on a level with the guide plates (1 and platforms C in the inverter cradles to support the bottles and retain them in the inverted crates while being washed. The fixed grid eXends the full length of the washing machine A and comprises a number of longitudinal rods supported on transverse bars.

In the construction shown in 13 to 15, the crate inverterB is rotated by a rack H. wheels h, it and toothed rim 71?. The rack H is operated by the crank K and links Z: for greater distance than its length so that curing the period it is disengaged from the pinion it there is time for the next crate to be pushed into the cradle of the inverter.

As shown in Fig. hit, the raclrpinii'm h is adapted to slide to and fro on its spindle and is drawn out. of engagement with the rack by a spring h and pushed into engagement by pusher rod l2 and cranked lever A. As each crate is brought up on the conveyor D it pushes the rod it" back and sets the inverter in motion and the crate is pushed into the cradle when the rotation stops.

Instead of the push rod 70*, the rack mechanism may be operated by the depression of the end of the conveyor 1) by the weight of the crate (see Fig. The conveyor end hinged at d and connected by a link to the cranked lever 7&3 which controls the rack pinion h as above described.

A spring stop M may be employed to hold the inverted cradle either in its upright or inverted position.

The grids E whether separate, movable or stationary may 312 made tubular or of bars or rods of steel, aluminum, brass or bronze or other metal having sufficient stability and smoothness to allow the bottles to travel along mouth downward upon them without undue f ric-tion and vibration. The wires, tubes or bars may be inserted into cross members and welded or otherwise secured thereto. These cross members are so arranged that while the sides or ends of the crate are travelling upon the rollers a spaced is left in which the stacking iron of the crate may pass through without fouling either the rollers or the cross members,

Plenty of room is, leftbetween the longitudinal and transverse members of the grid and they are so disposed as to leave plenty of room for the jets of water, solution, steam or air employed ,for washing, cleansing and sterilizing the bottles and crates.

Where crates of bottles are required to leave the machine in a cool condition, cooling appliances may be provided in front of the reinverter.

In operation the crates D of empty, dirty bottles are placed in succession upon the table convey r D and moved forward one at a time into the cradle of rotary inverter or tippler B and the crate and bottles are inverted there in, the bottles being maintained in position either by the loose grids E or by the floor plates C across the cradle of the inverter upon which the mouths of the bottles rest when inverted.

The next on-coining crate from the feeding conveyer D pushes the first crate D out of the inverter B with its bottles mouth downward into the washing machine where the crate comes to rest-for a predetermined peiod. The inverter B then makes another semi-rotation and a third crate is pushed in and moves the preceding two crates onward, this process being continually repeated while the machine is at work. When the column of crates reaches the reinverter B the first crate is pushed into it and the operation goes on continuously in the same manner as described for the inverter. On or after leaving the reinverter the grid E is either picked up by hand and returned to the feeding end of the machine or is taken off and collected therefrom by the automatic conveyor,Fig. 1 which returns it to the feeding end of the machine and stacks it in the receptacle F. Inthe case of moving grids ,or stationary grids the bottle mouths rest on these and they are left in the washing machine as the crates are passed forward.

It should be noted that in the known types of tunnel bottle washing machines, the crates travel though not inverted with the stackingirons or lugs (Z upward the bottles being inverted by hand in the crates before entering the cleaning machine and being dis charged or re-inverted by other means outside the washing machine. In this invention,v

however,'I' provide for the crates passing through the washing machineinverted with the stack-irons downward and either shrouding the irons in a loose grid (Figs. 1 and 2) or by providing spaces from end to end of the machine to allow the stacking irons to clear both in the inverters and over the jets while at the.sametime guiding the crates so that they accurately retain their position in their passage through the washing machine and inverters. I

What I claim as my invention and desire to protect by LettersiPatent is 2- 1..Apparatus for washing and sterilizing bottles in crates comprising a rotary inverter at the feed end of the machine to invert the crate and bottles carried therein, a wash chamber through which the inverted crate and bottles are traversed, jet means therein, grids upon which the mouths of the inverted bottles rest and travel above the level of the jet means, guides extending longitudinally through the wash. chamber upon which the inverted crates rest and travel, and a second. rotary inverter at the delivery end of the machine to reinvert the crate and bottles, the rotary inverters both. rotating about an axis longitudinal of the machine and in line with the direction of traverse of the crates and bottles.

2. Apparatus for washing and sterilizing bottles as in claim 1 constructed with a conveyor to feed the crates and bottles to the feed rotary inverter and with a roller table to carry the crates and bottles from the delivery rotary inverter.

3. Apparatus for washing and sterilizing bottles in crates comprising a rotary inverter at the feed end rotating about an axis longi tudinal of the machine to. invert the crate and bottles therein, grids formed of a plurality of rods upon which the mouths of the inverted bottles .restand travel, platforms and guides in the inverter between which the crate and bottles pass, a wash-chamber toreceive the crate and bottles in theinverted position from the inverter, jet means therein, guides to carry the inverted cratesand grids, the guides being arranged in the wash-chain her above the level ofthe jet means and a second rotary inverter,'similar to the first inverter to re-invert the crate and bottles at the delivery end, the inverters and wash-trough being disposed. in a horizontal straight'linc to give the crate and bottles a horizontal straight line passage through the apparatus.

4. Apparatus for washing and sterilizing bottles in crates comprising a rotary inverter at the feed end to invert the crate and bottles therein, grids upon which the inverted end, the inverters rotating about an axis 10ngitudinal of the machine, and the Wash chamber being disposed in a horizontal straight line to give the crate and bottles horizontal straight line passage through the apparatus, mechanism by which a grid is ted to the crate as it enters the apparatus and by which said grid is removed from the crate as it emerges therefrom, and me JllltlllSlll to rotate the crate inverters.

5. Apparatus for washing and sterilizing bottles in crates comprising, a rotary inverter at the il'eed end to invert the crate and bottles therein, grids upon which the inverted mouths of the l it les rest and travel, platforms and guides in the inverter between which the crate and bottles pass, a \\'21Sl1-0ll1111l)61' to receive the crate and bottles in the inverted position from the inverter, e't means therein, gui-ces arranged in the wash chamber to carry the inverted crate, and grids and second rotary inverter similar to the first inverter to re-invert the crate and bottles at the delivery end, the inverters and wash chamber being disposed in a horizontal straight line to give the crate and bottles a horizontal straight line passage through the apparatus, and a travelling conveyor moving over the machine to lift the grid from the crate at the delivery end and return it to the feed end of the machine and mechanism to rotate the crate inverters.

6. Apparatus for washing and sterilizing bottles in crates comprising arotary inverter open at both ends disposed atthe feed end of the machine to invert the crate and bottle therein, platforms and guides in the inverter between which the crate and bottles Jase, a wash chamljier to receive the crate and bottles in the inverted position from the inverter, jet l'neans therein, guides upon which the crates rest and grids upon which the n'ionths ot the in vcrtcd bottles restand travel above the level oi the means l a second rotary inverter open at both ends similar to the first inverter tore-invert the crate and bottles at the deliver end the inverters rotati about an axis longitudinal ot the machine and being arranged with the wash-chamber in a horizontal 'ght line to 'ive the crate and bottles a horizontal sti ght line passage through the apparatus, mechanism to rotate the crate inverters and means by which such mechanism is set in motion by the presence of the crate.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ARTHUR GUY ENOCK. 

